Brownlee brothers to be honoured by their former Bradford school

TWO of Yorkshires’ sporting heroes are to be honoured when they return to their old school later this month.

Brothers and triathlete champions Alistair and Jonny Brownlee are going back to Bradford Grammar School, on Wednesday September 30 to start a fun run for pupils and the renaming of a sports pavilion in their honour.

Current and former students will take part in a handicap run around nearby Lister Park ahead of a naming ceremony of the Brownlee Pavilion at the independent school in Manningham.

Olympic gold medal winner Alistair attended Bradford Grammar School from 1998 to 2006, while his younger brother Jonny, Olympic bronze medallist and the current world sprint triathlon Champion, was a pupil from 1998 to 2008. The Brownlee Pavilion will house a permanent exhibition, commissioned by the school, featuring a timeline of Jonny and Alistair’s achievements throughout both their school life and their professional careers.

Bradford Grammar School’s headmaster Kevin Riley said: “We wanted to do something to celebrate their achievements. We have a tradition of naming buildings after former pupils - we have the Adrian Moorhouse swimming pool. Jonny and Alistair reflect what we are about. They strive for excellence but I think everyone also recognises that they are nice people and that there is a humility about them.” The mural in the pavilion starts with the Brownlee’s school reports and follows the story of their lives with momentos from their careers.